Requirements/Eligibility

Most applicants who are admitted meet the standards in each of the following areas:

1. High School Subject Requirements

The CSU requires a minimum 15-unit pattern of courses for admission as a first-time freshman. Each unit is equal to a year of study in a subject area. A grade of C or higher is required for each course you use to meet any subject requirement.

⇒The grades you earn in high school are the most important factor in CSU admission decisions. Your high school grade point average is calculated using your grades in all your college prep a-g classes completed after the 9th grade.

⇒Test scores are required unless you have a grade point average above 3.0 and are a resident of California. The CSU uses a calculation called an eligibility index that combines your high school grade point average with the score you earn on either the SAT or ACT tests. Even if you have a GPA above 3.0, it is useful to take either an SAT or ACT as the score may indicate if you do not need to take English and math placement tests after you are admitted and before you enroll at the CSU.

⇒The Eligibility Index Table shows the combination of test scores and grade point averages required to meet minimum eligibility requirements. The CSU does not use the SAT Writing section or the ACT Writing score to calculate the CSU Eligibility Index.

⇒The CSU assigns extra points for up to eight semesters of approved honors level, International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP) courses taken in the last three years of high school: A=5 points, B=4 points, C=3 points. No more than two approved honors level courses taken in the tenth grade may be given extra points. A grade of D in an honors IB or Advanced Placement course does not earn extra points.

3. Graduation from High School

For admission to the CSU, graduation from high school and receipt of a high school diploma are admission requirements.

Impacted Programs - Supplementary Admission Criteria

Some CSU campuses have higher standards for particular majors or for students who live outside the local campus area. Because of the number of students who apply, a few campuses have higher standards (supplementary admission criteria) for all applicants. Many CSU campuses utilize local admission guarantee policies for students who graduate or transfer from high schools and community colleges that are historically served by a CSU campus in that region

In the California State University, an undergraduate major or campus is designated as impacted when the number of CSU eligible applications received in the initial filing period is greater than the number that can be accommodated by the major or campus. In such instances, CSU campuses have been authorized to use supplementary admission criteria to screen applicants to these majors and/or campuses. These supplementary admission criteria may include, but are not limited to the following:

Cease accepting admission applications at the conclusion of the initial filing period;

Require submission of the SAT or ACT regardless of the high school grade point average;

Rank order first-time freshmen by eligibility index;

Set a higher minimum eligibility index than that required for CSU admission;

Review additional characteristics such as socioeconomic or educational factors, space availability in a program or major, indications of overcoming educational obstacles, or exceptional talents; and